[color=LightGray][h3][center][color=LightSteelBlue]Cassius[/color] & [color=9354FF]Fritz[/color][/center][/h3][hr]

[color=9354FF]“Hello there,”[/color] the whisper sounded so close to him, but when Cassius turned around, the raven-haired man was a good few feet away. [color=9354FF]“I’ve come to take you up on that offer.”[/color]

Cassius had been in his own world at the wine table, but he immediately recognized the voice. A curious smile curled across his devilishly handsome face as he turned to the man, ever so slightly perplexed as to why he sounded much closer than he actually was. The introspective demeanor he found himself in after his dance with Charlotte shifted into his usual, enchanting disposition with simple flip of a switch.[color=LightSteelBlue] “I knew you would come…”[/color] He confessed, his words coated with a sultry layer of charm. He closed the distance between them with a poised stride. [color=LightSteelBlue] “How could you possibly resist?”[/color] 

[color=9354FF]“And risk losing the opportunity to better know you?”[/color] Leaning closer, he breathed the words, [color=9354FF]“Perish the thought.”[/color] As the count pulled away, he gave the lord a coquettish smile. [color=9354FF]“I am but a moth to a flame. And you shine ever so bright, my lord.”[/color]

Ryn chuckled, before asking, [color=9354FF]“So! What shall it be?”[/color] One hand rose, poised, ready to receive a partner’s hand for a dance. [color=9354FF]“May I have the honor of being swept from my feet by the dazzling Lord Damien himself? Or…”[/color] A bottle of deep red materialized in his other hand, called forth by a dexterous flourish. [color=9354FF]“Can I tempt Mr. Vael into sharing this lovely vintage with me?”[/color]

The smile, the subtle differences in demeanor…these things proved fascinating to Cassius; fascinating and enticing both. As he looked at Fritz with ardent eyes, he began to slowly circle the man with graceful steps. He considered the two options before him for a moment as he slowly moved closer to the one seeking his company. 

Cas had already experienced [i]the dance[/i] for the evening, so it was the impressive way in which Fritz presented the bottle out of nowhere that truly won his interest. 
[color=LightSteelBlue]”It takes quite the adventurous moth to seek out light this bright…but we all know what happens to such a creature when it touches the flames.”[/color] Cassius spoke with angelic resonance, his practiced tongue as alluring [i]and dangerous[/i] as ever. [color=LightSteelBlue]"Let's see how close we can get without you getting burned."[/color] His hand wrapped around the bottle in Fritz’s grasp, seemingly giving the handsome man his answer.

The count drew nearer to Lord Damien, close enough that the heat of his breath brushed against skin. [color=9354FF]“Very.”[/color] Then he withdrew, wine glasses now glimmering in each hand. Ryn asked cheerfully, [color=9354FF]“Would you like to drink here or take a seat somewhere?”[/color]

He met Fritz’s move with an impressed smile. It was fun to watch them weave their charm in a way that mirrored his own. There was something about the man that made it challenging to get a proper read on him, but that only made the prospect of spending a little bit of time with him one on one all the more enticing to Cassius.

[color=LightSteelBlue] “Would you prefer if I take a drink [i]of you[/i] here or somewhere else, hmm?”[/color] Cassius’s eyes sparkled with mischief as a playful smirk tugged at his lips,[color=LightSteelBlue] “ I must say, indulging in such a public display might spark a scandal, don’t you think?”[/color] He raised his eyebrows suggestively. After a theatrical pause, his eyes widened with feigned innocence. [color=LightSteelBlue]  “Oh of course… You meant the [i]wine[/i]. Well.”[/color] A devilish grin painted his features as he spoke with some debonair flair. [color=LightSteelBlue]  “I suppose the balcony will do in any case.”[/color] 

Cassius then drew in just as close as Fritz had. [color=LightSteelBlue]  “Never know where the night may take us.”[/color]

The lord’s feigned innocence, however, was met with an authentic one.

Ryn canted his head, perplexed by why drinking in the ballroom might “spark a scandal” until Lord Damien murmured the words [color=LightSteelBlue][i]“Never know where the night may take us.”[/i][/color]

A surprised peal of laughter burst from him, as bright and effervescent as the bubbles in a glass of champagne. [color=9354FF]“Obviously I have much to learn from the master of seduction.”[/color]

Threading his arm through the lord’s, he steered them towards the doors leading to the balcony. [color=9354FF]“Quick, before everyone discovers I’m not nearly as suave as I pretend to be!”[/color]

Once they stepped into the night air, Ryn disentangled himself. [color=9354FF]“Now that I have you all to myself…”[/color] He put a careful distance between their bodies so that Lord Damien would not feel obligated to keep up with his flirtations. [color=9354FF]“You can relax now.”[/color]

Cas found himself grinning with fascination as Fritz dropped his little charade. Was he right in his previous assessment? Was his new acquaintance simply mirroring his own personality back to him? It didn’t matter to be honest, this little twist only made Cassius more curious than before. He walked to the railing at the edge of the balcony, leaning against it and looking out into the night. After another of his wonderfully dramatic pauses, he spoke. 

[color=LightSteelBlue]“Oh, my dear Fritz…there is no need to play games with my humble, innocent heart like this.”[/color] The words came out impishly, with a hint of mischief behind them. [color=LightSteelBlue]“I am a man of business just as much as I am one of [i]pleasure[/i]…If you wished to speak with me all you needed to do…was ask.”[/color] Giving the man a playful wink, he took the wine glasses from him and poured the two of them a drink before speaking once more. [color=LightSteelBlue]“Brilliant deception, though. I must say, it almost felt like I was talking to myself. But…alas…what is it that you actually desire from a man like me?”[/color]

[color=9354FF]“Trick you? I thought I was straightforward about wanting to get to know you better… I apologize if I misled you in some way.”[/color] 

Ryn accepted the drink with a thank you. [color=9354FF]“I wasn’t sure how comfortable you actually were in there.”[/color] He turned his head to the doors that separated the two from the fanciful life of high society. [color=9354FF]“A drastic change in lifestyle can be overwhelming to some people. How are you holding up Mr. Vael?... Or do you prefer Lord Damien?”[/color]

Cassius simply nodded in response to Fritz's explanation, still a bit unsure of the man’s tactics. Taking a long sip of the wine, he let the liquid dance across his palate, unraveling a symphony of flavors on his tongue. The rich, velvety texture enveloped his senses like a warm embrace, while notes of dark berries and hints of oak whispered tales of distant vineyards. With closed eyes, he savored the intricate balance between sweetness and tannins, feeling the wine's essence linger on his tongue like a memory. 

[color=LightSteelBlue]“You have good taste in wine.”[/color] He stated as a playful deflection before responding to the man’s final query first. [color=LightSteelBlue]“As for what to call me, that’s a good question…Cassius always has the perfect ring to it, but I can’t deny that I’m growing quite fond of the title [i]Lord[/i].”[/color] His words were still coated with the same flirtatious charm as before. [color=LightSteelBlue]“Call me whatever you wish, and deception or not…I can assure you that very few people in this world have what it takes to make me feel uncomfortable. Regardless, now you have me here on my lonesome. It’s just you and I, lover boy. My undivided attention is yours.”[/color] 

[color=9354FF]“Then let’s go with the best of both worlds, Lord Cassius.”[/color] 

Ryn swirled the deep crimson wine in his glass, watching the liquid catch the light as he leaned against the ornate balustrade. [color=9354FF]“You’ve got a hardier constitution than I, it seems. High society can be…”[/color] He paused, his lips quirking wryly, [color=9354FF]“brutally unwelcoming at times.”[/color]

Cassius raised a glass in agreement, an accordant smile teasing the edges of his mouth

Black eyes glanced sidelong at Lord Damien, studying the other man’s profile intently before drifting down to linger on the other man’s hands. A person’s hands could often reveal the stories of their life. [color=9354FF]“What was your life like before all of this?”[/color] he asked simply.

Letting the man’s question linger in the air in a similar fashion to how the wine’s resonance remained on his tongue, Cas mulled over the array of possible answers. He turned to bring his eyes up to meet Fritz once more as he spoke  [color=LightSteelBlue]”That depends entirely on how much time we have and the tone of conversation you’re in the mood to explore, friend.”[/color] There was a facetious nature to his words though his eyes held nothing but authenticity. 

[color=9354FF]“I’ll leave the choice to you.”[/color] Whatever Lord Damien was willing to offer, Ryn would accept.

[color=LightSteelBlue]”As arrogant as it sounds, the truth is I’ve lived more life in my twenty seven years than most of the men and women that surrounded us in that ballroom could ever dream of…I could go on for hours about the things I’ve seen, the things I’ve done. But to narrow it down to its most [i]pragmatic[/i] state, I have chased beauty and conflict all across Eromora. I have found glory, praise, infamy, and [i]unfathomable pleasures[/i] along the way.”[/color] 

Stopping for a moment, Cassius stared into the beautiful black voids that were the eyes of his new acquaintance as he pondered his next words carefully. [color=LightSteelBlue]And now…now I find myself engaged in a brand new hunt. One where perhaps I don’t even know what it is I’m looking for.”[/color] He raised his glass once more, this time with a wink. [color=LightSteelBlue]”Or, perhaps I know exactly what it is I’m chasing…Guess we’ll just have to wait and see, won’t we?”[/color] 

[color=9354FF]“I guess we’ll have to.”[/color] Ryn’s lips curved in a faint, contemplative smile. [color=9354FF]“I hope you find what you’re looking for.”[/color]

[color=9354FF]“In the meantime… Let’s entertain a game of sorts—a trade of questions, an exchange of stories.”[/color]

[color=LightSteelBlue]“Sounds like fun…”[/color] Cassius remarked eagerly. [color=LightSteelBlue]“But allow me to add a little twist to make things even more interesting. Everything, and I mean [i]everything[/i], is on the table. If you answer, you must be one hundred percent honest. If the question is too much, or if you’re not comfortable answering…you simply take a drink.”[/color] He raised his glass to his lips and sipped before beginning. 

[color=LightSteelBlue]“Since you just asked, I’ll do the honor of starting us off properly. First question…Why did you come here to Sorian? Question two…What do you dream about at night when there’s no one around to influence your thoughts and it’s just you and the deep recesses of your mind?”[/color]   

[color=9354FF]“Oh my,”[/color] The count’s teasing held the same flirtatious undertone Lord Damien had moments ago. [color=9354FF]“Going in hard without build-up, no turn-taking, and you only have two questions for me? Lord Cassius…”[/color] He tsked and shook his head in mock disapproval. [color=9354FF]“But, if that’s how you prefer to play…”[/color]

With a satirical roll of the eyes, Cassius shook his head proudly at Fritz’s clever little jest, his smile only growing as the man continued.

He upended his untouched glass into Lord Damien’s cup. A brazen breach of etiquette, but he did not want to waste perfectly good wine by pouring it off the balcony, and it carried a pointed message: he would not need to drink for this game.

Though Lord Damien must have been aware of the loophole in the rules he proposed. [color=9354FF]“I came here for many reasons. As a newly titled noble, I was invited to the annual gathering.”[/color] True. [color=9354FF]“Since there was no reason not to attend, and I wanted to make connections, I came.”[/color] Also true. Ryn leaned in conspiratorially, as if he was revealing a dark secret, [color=9354FF]“I’m hoping to make lots of friends.”[/color] Another truth.

All individually true, one hundred percent honest answers. But none revealed the whole truth.

[color=9354FF]“I’m also looking for the answer to a question,”[/color] he added nonchalantly at the end.

Cassius acknowledged his new confidant’s clever little statement with the wine by emptying the contents of his glass with one long drink as Fritz spoke, showing that he was not going to need the generously strategic reprieve from potentially difficult questions either. His eyes never broke from the man’s face as Fritz addressed his first question.

The answer to Lord Damien’s second question was quite dull. [color=9354FF]“This is going to sound boring, but… Nothing. I don’t dream. I haven’t had a dream in a very long time.”[/color]

Fritz’s statement knocked free an old quote from the recesses of Cas’s mind. [i]’A man who cannot dream is a slave to his own reality’[/i]. Cas wondered if Fritz had forgotten how to dream, or if he was actually evading the specters and dreads of nightmares. Either way, the thought intrigued him to no end.  

[color=9354FF]“Let’s see, so two deep, hard-hitting questions.”[/color] Ryn mulled over some potential questions to ask. [color=9354FF]“What have you done in the past that haunts you to this very day?”[/color]

[color=LightSteelBlue]“Oh…my dear, handsome man. And you have the audacity to suggest that I was [i]skipping the foreplay[/i]?”[/color] Cassius prodded with a playful level of tongue-in-cheek. [color=LightSteelBlue]“Here you are building straight for a proper crescendo. It’s a bold move and I must admit…I absolutely love it.”[/color] His amused smile soon turned slightly more dreary as his mind turned to addressing the man’s question. He leaned on the balcony himself, looking out over the night as he contemplated his truth. 

[color=LightSteelBlue]“Where do I even begin?”[/color] He asked, partially in jest yet more honest than he would like to admit. [color=LightSteelBlue]“I was a mercenary for almost half my life, Fritz. To live by the sword, chasing gold and glory…There is an abundance of skeletons in my closet that come to haunt my moments of peace.”[/color] Cas pondered something more specific, wishing to honor the spirit of the game they were playing. 

[color=LightSteelBlue]“For instance…the very first man I killed. I never even got his name, but the look on his face as he succumbed to my blade, and the sanguine warmth of his blood on my hands are sensations burned into my very being.”[/color] His eyes shifted to meet Fritz’s, a look of absolute stoicism displayed on his face. [color=LightSteelBlue]“By my count, you have another question. I am an open book…simply pick a chapter.”[/color]

Even with the mask obscuring his features, Ryn could sense how Lord Damien’s countenance hardened into one of stoicism. It was a mask not meant to conceal so much as to compartmentalize and shield oneself from feeling the weight of the truth.

Just as Ryn had learned to do himself.

From the bleakest depths of human depravity to nature’s most savage, uncaring devastation, Ryn had witnessed and endured more than enough to intimately know the myriad ways in which a person could be broken.

Through it all, he had learned the art of disassociation, to erect walls around his psyche, fortifying his mind against the horrors and desolation that sought to invade and corrupt. It was a necessary defense, a survival mechanism, lest his soul be lost forever.

Tempted as he was to ask a follow-up question, if there were to only be two questions, Ryn wanted to end on a more positive one. [color=9354FF]“What brings you happiness?”[/color]

Cassius paused, his eyes wandering over Fritz's face for a moment. The question seemed to hang in the air, mingling with the faint breeze rustling the leaves overhead.

[color=LightSteelBlue]"What makes me happy?"[/color] Cassius repeated, his voice low and thoughtful. His lips curved into a faint smile as he searched for an answer. A moment passed before his gaze drifted to the skyline, drawn to a distant point in the cityscape. A faint green light blinked on the horizon, barely visible against the backdrop of the evening. It was something that was almost inconspicuous enough to just blend into the night, except to Cassius…to any Iron Wolf, it was anything but subtle. 

His mind raced with questions that felt all too soon to be asking. Were they here for him? Should he answer the call? Who could possibly be on the other side of the distress beacon? There was only one way to find out. 

The realization that he had left Fritz unanswered hit suddenly as he turned to face him. [color=LightSteelBlue]“It’s not my style to leave before a good climax…but I admit, something has come up. I’ll give you a much better answer next time, handsome. I do expect there to be a next time, yes?”[/color] He asked with thirsty eyes. 

[color=LightSteelBlue]“But until then…I’ll give you just a little tease. What could possibly make a man like me happy? Perhaps everything…or…perhaps not a damned thing at all.”[/color] Cas said slyly, giving Fritz a playful bow and one last signature smile before making his leave.  

Ryn met the farewell with a curtsy, then turned to face the distant sky. The soft flutter of wings and the clicking of talons reached his ears before he shifted his attention to the nightjar that had alighted on the top rail of the balustrade. They exchanged a silent, weighted look, and then the nightjar took to the skies, vanishing into the horizon. Ryn remained alone on the balcony save for the silent, watchful presence of an owl perched in a nearby tree. The bird of prey’s unblinking stare fixed upon the window of the estate.[/color]

[hider=TL;DR]Fritz approaches Cassius and offers to take him up on the dance they spoke about earlier. Instead, the two head out on a private balcony for a drink. Flirtation and mutual admiration is shared between them as they get to know one another a little more with a game of hard hitting questions. However, the game is interrupted as Cassius notices something in the distance that pulls him away prematurely.[/hider]